Recap of “Class of 2020: Ready For Anything” with Kevin Love.

Verizon continued its virtual commencement series, “Class of 2020: Ready for Anything,” with professional basketball player, Kevin Love. He shared personal words of wisdom with graduates. Some of the top takeaways:

Kevin has always had an ambitious, singular focus: build a successful NBA career and provide for his family. He made extraordinary sacrifices to realize these dreams and made them a reality, all before turning 28. But they came at a price.

He spoke to graduates about the importance of a North Star -- the one true passion that will light the way, not limit your growth -- and encouraged grads to stay committed to that goal but leave room for other interests. He realized that basketball was his North Star but nothing happened without “that ball,” and he could have had a more vibrant life sooner had he opened himself up to other avenues along the way. There are an infinite number of ways to achieve success, no time clock to hit your goals. He advised graduates to stay relentlessly curious and take detours along the journey.

Kevin Love, professional basketball player

When it comes to addressing mental health challenges, especially in light of the current state of the world, Kevin spoke about the vital role of routine and establishing healthy physical and mental habits. He advocated for “chasing what you love”: wake up, assess what you need, and get after the day following a regime of healthy eating, exercise, and self-care. This can help offset depression and anxiety and keep you from the slippery slope he tends to experience.

He referenced a number of books from which he pulled quotes and lessons that have informed his thinking and behavior: The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius; The Hilarious World of Depression by John Moe; 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari; and David Epstein’s Range. His extensive reading has helped him better understand who he is, how he can cope and better manage through difficult times for a more fulfilling life.

And finally, Kevin reflected on the unique challenges associated with graduating during a pandemic. What we once deemed important is now fairly trivial. He spoke about the fragility of life -- how COVID-19 brought that into sharp relief and how we need to keep that understanding front and center as we move forward. He strongly encouraged everyone to live in the present. Be grateful for what we have. Go boldly after what you want and, for graduates, “it’s up to you to determine your destiny. Meet your future halfway. This is your opportunity to put fear and doubt behind you. Dream bigger than big! Write a different story for yourself because, as a generation, you have a potential for impact that few others have ever had. It’s up to you to make that matter. Cheers to you, Class of 2020!”

Be sure to tune in to Verizon’s LinkedIn page on Friday, June 5th at 11:00 am ET for the next commencement in the series featuring Hugh Evans, Co-founder and CEO, Global Citizen, and Jen Rubio, Co-founder, Away. #Commencement2020 #ReadyForAnything

For media inquiries, please contact Lauren Tilstra at lauren.tilstra@verizon.com or (908) 635-9099.

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